The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-08
A BRAVE SACRIFICE.

III was aIfcf tile DatLic OF iIOSSCHWllleT.
The French, twenty hours in advance OF
the enemy. were returning To Chalons.
whence they intended an offensive move
. ment by way OF Montmedy. The greater
part of the retreating army had already
crossed the Mouse, and all along the river
the bridges had been burned or blown up
TO prevent or delay the pursuit of the
enemy. If this was a ''retard' for the
Germans, it was also destruction for those
of our own soldiers who found them
selves bewildered and wounded survivors
of the struggle, and left behind desolate
and despairing in the face of the deep and
impossible waters.
Night comes on and silent shadows
wander along the rivers edges; group.
confused and gesticulating, standing in
front of the debris of bridge of which
but one arch remains. erecting itself as
straight as reed in the middle of the
stream, and absolutely unapproachable.
With the passing hours the shadows be-
como more numerous, tho groups moro
compact and in the agitated crowds of
corners and goers, soldiers of all arms,
grades and regiments call TO and interro-
gate each other, sounding the depth of
the water with their poles, cursing,
vehemently shaking their fists at the COM
ing enemy, then all at once silent and
resigned, though bitterly regretting that
they had not been killed in the warm,
sweet sunshine in the battle of the
morning. A fire has been kindled; it is
point of immediate rally ; the wounded
drag themselves toward the comforting
blaze, and soon vast circle forms itself
about the blazing wood
The hours crawl by in WEAKNESS and
silence Suddenly a loud voice rings
through the drowsy stiffness:
Down the river some eight leagues
from here, there ought to be bridge
the bridge of La Fourche. Perhaps it ex-
lists still. Let us go and see."
1t was lieutenant of infantry who
spoke thus. Standing upright before the
fire, which shines upon him clearly, he
consults, by the light of the flames, a
folded chart, his finger pointing stiffly to
a certain dot, the bridge of La Fourche.
The officers surround him, and colloquy
takes place.
cit is true, )" they say to the lounging
men; 'the bridge should be there. For
ward, march!'' and every one springs tn
his feet.
Then grooming is heard; it comes from
the wounded, shivering and bleeding,
who find this roaring fire SO good-the
wounded who are unable to march, and
equally unwilling to be left behind.
ssWho commands here?" asks Dragon
suddenly. The officers look at each
other stupidity, then all of them lift their
ell. H.,
asked the question, a huge commandment
of cavalry, seeming taller still in the
long, black mantle, which falls to his
knees. He was the only superior officer.
Thanks, messieurs, he responds to
the salute; '.that being the case, all able
soldiers, regardless of rank, will yield
their horses for the transportation of the
wounded. Put out the fire and take the
road.
= And setting the example of obedience
to the order given by himself, he I'M
fastens his horse, and lifting from ditch
soldier groaning with fractured thigh
he lays him like child across the saddle.
"Hold ON, my boy" says be, as, taking
the bride in his hand, he walks to his
place at the head of the column defiling
like phantoms through the gloom of the
night. A pallid moon begins leisurely to
mount in the deep blue sky, but the stars
are few.
The column moves slowly, for all the
wounded have not horses, but supported
by their comrades in turn crawl along
with Keeling heads and tagging footsteps,
moaning with the agony of their wounds.
At first the troop advances resolutely and
with precision, but soon it falls apart like
the rounds of ladder. Already the dis
order has brought forth the command ''to
form an advance guard of the most alert,
the rest of the body to hold the wounded
on the horses" while the crippled and
the lame, resting at every stone, clinging
to every tree, fierccly, obstinately deter
mined not to die, bring up the rear.
A great diversity of uniforms shows it
self in this crowd Of soldiers bound to.
gether by the feeling of sympathy and
comradeship which invariably follows q
common disaster. Torn from their scat
tered regiments, their colonies dead, their
color bearers lost, they recognize each
other only by the accent of their native
provinces, and these .improvised and
variegated companies. as in the olden'
times, answer to the military cal@ Of
''Picardiep' ''Champagnel" Gas
coigner' and all the other sonorous and
high sounding names of La Belle France.
And along the route the column grows
as it passes, men coming out from their
hiding places in the thickets to Join i'm
the ranks. Like the companions of the
Cid. who started 1900 strong" they
would arrive 5000.
Eight leagues is nothing for strong
and healthy soldiers breaking camp in
the freshness of the early morning, but
tothese bleeding, footsore fugitives, each
movement was a torture, and tho end
seemingly further away with every step
Of advancement. Still they march on
ward. Already some of them have
thrown away all that remained of their
equipment. and with guns in their
shoulder belts, their hands weak and
feeble, they advance with the swaying
step and half closed eyes Of the sleepy,
bewildered drunkard. Great sturdy
lnncers, bent almost double. support
A.